Fluid-tight watch provided with an automatic winding-up system and key setting stem



Aprll 22, 1958 E. PIQUEREZ 2,831,315

FLUID-TIGHT WATCH PROVIDED WITH AN AUTOMATIC WINDING-UP SYSTEM AND KEY SETTING STEM Filed Sept. 2. 1955 IIIIIIIII/I/IIIIIIII United States Patent Ervin Piquerez, Bassecourt, Switzerland Application Septemberi, 1955, Serial No. 532,216

Claims priority, application Switzerland September 8, 1954.

10' Claims. or. 58-90 My invention has for its objects a fluid-tight watch provided with an automatic winding-up system. According to my invention, the stern controlling the watch clockwork is fitted inside an inner section of the case and terminates ,at least approximately, in register with the outer surface of the said section of the case, the said stem being, furthermore, deprived of any control knob and being concealed by an outer section of the case fitted over the inner section enclosing the said stem.

I have illustrated byway of examplein the accompanying drawing three preferred embodiments of my invention. In said drawings: g i

Fig. 1 is a partial axial cross-section of the first embodiment; ,7

Figs. 2,3 and 4 show detail modifications;

Figs. and 6 are partialaxial cross-sections of each of the two other embodiments. I

The embodiment illustrated in Fig; l is constituted by a wristwatch including a case formed by a bottoin and an upstanding peripheral flange,a separate rim 2, a glass 3 and an outer ring 4 carrying the lugs 5 for the wrist band; across the latter are secured bars 6 adapted to carry the ends of the wrist band 7 provided with the usual buckle and tongue. Inside the case is fittedthe mechanisrn 8 of the watch, associated with an automatic winding-up system The stem 9 passing through the upstanding flange on the bottom 1 is intended either solely for setting the time or else, both for time-setting and for winding-up the watch by hand Whenever the automatic winding system is not operative, for any reason whatever. I

It is assumed that the mechanism 8 is a high. grade clockwork and that it issufficient to reset it only at long intervals. 'Withthis assumption, the time-settingstem 9 is not provided with the usual knob. and it ends substantially flush with the outer surface of the upstanding flange 1 While it is entirely concealed from view by the case band or peripheral Wall 4 of the case, which case band must be removed to allow reaching the said stem 9. The outer end of the said stem is provided with an axial square opening It) into which may be fitted the end of a tool for rotating the said stem; when the stem is to serve for Winding-up by hand, it may be drawn outwardly into the desired winding-up position by engaging ones finger nail underneath the small flange 10a provided at the end of the said stern and housed with some clearance inside a correspondingly shaped housing 10!) formed in the upstanding flange. 11 designates a packing rigid with the case band and forms a joint with the upstanding flange so as to prevent moisture from entering the ciockworl; over the surface of the time-setting stem.

When it is desired to actuate the stem 9, it may be accomplished by resorting to a tool fitted inside the actual watch. To this end, there is shown in a modification illustrated in Fig. 2 an axial housing in the cross-member 12, closing the buckle 14 to which asection of the wrist band is attached; inside the said housing is concealed the tool 15.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, it is also possible to provide ice 2 such an axial housing inside the bar 16 connecting the lugs on the side of the case.

- Lastly, as illustrated in Fig. 4, it is possible to give the free end of the tongue 17 in the wrist band the shape of a tool for the purpose specified.

The embodiments illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 differ from those illustrated in Fig. 1 only by detail features. In the said figures, the winding-up stem is assumed to be made of synthetic plastic material, for instance of a material of the polyamidic type, such as that sold under the registered trade name nylon. I

It is likewise possible to resort to a vinylic'resin, to polystyrol, to the material sold under the trade name lexiglas or to any other non-metallic compressible material. By reason of the presence of such a substance, the stem forms a fluid-tight joint with the upstanding flange without any further member being inserted therebetween. The stem may also be made of metal.

In Fig. 5, a very small opening 2i) formed in the case band 4 allows turning the stem 18 without removing the said peripheral case band. i

In Fig. 6, the outer end of the stem 18 is covered both by the depending edge of the glass 13 and by the case band. It will be remarked that the case is then provided with a single joint between the bottom of the case and the lower edge of the glass, the case band 4 exerting a pressure on the glass along the said edge.

What I claim is:

1. In a fluidtight watch, the combination of a case including an inner and a disconnectable outer section interengaging each other along cooperating cylindrical surfaces and of which the inner section is provided with a transverse perforation, a clockwork mechanism and an auto matic winding-up system carried inside the case, a hand- .operable time-setting rotary stem extending through the perforation in the inner case section and operatively con nected with the mechanism, and the outer end of which is flat and lies substantially flush with the outer end of the said perforation and faces the outer section of the case to be concealed thereby.

2. In a fluidtight Watch, the combination of a case including a bottom, an upstanding flange rigid with the latter and provided with a radial perforation, a case band removably fitted coaxially over the said peripheral flange, a glass fitted between the upstanding flange and the case band, a mechanism and an automatic Winding-up system therefor, carried inside the case, a hand-operable timesetting rotary stem extending through the perforation in the upstanding flange, operatively connected with the mechanism and terminating outwardly with a fiat section lying substantially flush with the outer end of the said perforation and facing the inner wall of the case band to be concealed thereby.

3. In a fluidtight watch, the combination of a case including a bottom, an upstanding flange rigid with the latter and provided with a radial perforation, a case band removably fitted coaxially over the said peripheral flange, a glass fitted between the upper edges of the upstanding flange and the case band, a mechanism and an automatic winding-up system therefor carried inside the case, a hand-operable time-setting stern extending through the performation in the upstanding flange, operatively connected with the mechanism and terminating outwardly with a flat section lying substantially flush with the outer end of the said perforation and facing the inner wall of the case band to be concealed thereby and a fluidtight packing fitted between the said outer end of the stem and the inner surface of the case band.

4. In a fluidtight watch, the combination of a case 7 including a bottom, an upstanding flange rigid with the latter and provided with a radial perforation, a case band fitted coaxially over the said peripheral flange and provided with a narrow perforation registering with the axis of the perforation in the upstanding flange, a glass fitted between the upstanding flange and the case band, a mechanism and an automatic Winding-up system therefor carried inside the case, a hand-operable timesetting and winding-up rotary stem extending through the perforation in the upstanding flange, operatively connected with the mechanism and terminating outwardly with a flat section lying substantially flush with the outer end of the said perforation and facing the inner wall of the case band to be concealed thereby, the rotation of the stem being provided from the outside of the case through the perforation in the case band.

5. In a fluidtight watch the combination of a case including a bottom, an upstanding flange rigid with the latter and provided with a radial perforation, a case band removably fitted coaxially over the said peripheral flange, a glass including a depending flange fitted between the case band and the upstanding flange, a mechanism and an automatic winding-up system therefor carried inside the case, a hand-operable time-setting rotary stem extending through the perforation in the upstanding flange, operatively connected with the mechanism and terminating outwardly with a flat section lying substantially flush with the outer end of the said perforation and facing the inner wall of the depending flange on the glass.

6. In a fluidtight watch, the combination of a case including an inner and a disconnectable outer section interengaging each other and of which the inner section at least is provided with a transverse perforation, a cloclt- 1" work mechanism and an automatic winding-up system carried inside the case, a hand-operable time-setting stern extending through the perforation in the inner case section and operatively connected with the mechanism, and the outer end of which is flat and lies substantially flush with the outer end of the said perforation and faces the outer section of the case to be concealed thereby, the outer end of the stern being provided with an axial recess through which it may be rotated.

7. In a fluidtight watch, the combination of a case including an inner and a disconnectable outer section interengaging each other and of which the inner section at least is provided with a transverse perforation, a clockwork mechanism and an automatic winding system carried inside the case, a hand-operable time-setting stem made of a non-metallic compressible material fluidtightly engaging and extending through the perforation in the inner case section and operatively connected with the mechanism, and the outer end of which is fiat and lies substantially flush with the outer end of the said perforation and faces the outer section of the case to be concealed thereby.

8. In a fluidtight watch, the combination of a case including a bottom, an upstanding flange rigid with the latter and provided with a radial perforation, a case band removably fitted coaxially over the said peripheral flange, a glass fitted between the upstanding flange and the case band, a mechanism and an automatic winding-up system therefor carried inside the case, a hand-operable timesetting stem made of a non-metallic compressible material fluidtightly engaging and extending through the perforation in the upstanding flange, operatively connected with the mechanism and terminating outwardly with a flat section lying substantially flush with the outer end of the said perforation and facing the inner wall of of the case band to be concealed thereby.

9. In a fluidtight watch, the combination of a case including a bottom, an upstanding flange rigid with the latter and provided with a radial perforation, a case band removably fitted coaxially over the said peripheral flange, a glass fitted between the upstanding flange and the case band, a mechanism and an automatic winding-up system therefor, carried inside the case, a hand-operable timesetting stem made of a synthetic plastic material and extending through the perforation in the upstanding flange, operatively connected with the mechanism and terminating outwardly with a flat section lying substantially flush with the outer end of the said perforation and facing the inner wall of the case band to be concealed thereby.

10. In a fluidtight watch, the combination of a case including a bottom, an upstanding flange rigid with the latter and provided with a radial perforation, a case band removably fitted coaxially over the said peripheral flange, a glass fitted between the upstanding flange and the case band, a mechanism and an automatic winding-up system therefor, carried inside the case, a hand-operable timesetting stem made of a polyamidic material and extending through the perforation in the upstanding flange, operatively connected with the mechanism and terminating outwardly with a flat section lying substantially flush with the outer end of the said perforation and facing the inner wall of the case band to be concealed thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 322,297 Lamont July 14, 1885 1,419,029 Doll June 6, 1922 2,302,340 Morf Nov. 17, 1942 2,582,706 Kudelski Jan. 15, 1952 

